Lock for air valves of heating systems



Jan. 11, 1921.

A. J. RT'sExFEN LOOK FOR AIR VALVES OF HEATING SYSTBIS Filed Dec. 5.. 1925 Patented Jan. 11, 1.927.

ADQLPH J. oncrsnirnn,

LOOK FOR Am VALVES Application filed December This inventionmelates to locks for air valves of heatingsystems, and 1ts principal object is to provide automatically operating means for securely'locking an air valve to a.

radiator, or other member of a heating system, whereby unauthorized persons may not disconnect the air valve therefrom.

It is quitecommon for unauthorized persons to-diseonnect the air valve from a radiat'or, or other member of a heating system, and forgetto replace it before turning on the steam, with the result that the room may become filled with steambefore discovery is made that the air valve is missing. Serious damage is likely to'occur before the steam can be shutoff from its source. v

In accordance with one phase of the present invention, the air valvebecomes permanently locked to the radiator, or other I heating member, when secured thereon and cannot be disconnected therefrom without breaking the locking, means or some part of the air valve. According to another phase of the invention, the air valve becomes locked to the radiator, or. other heating. member, when securedthereto and cannot.

be disconnected therefrom except by .one having the proper and necessary tools for removing one of thelock parts.

With these and other objects and advanta'ges in view,-this invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 .is a side elevation, partly broken out, of an air valve and fragment of a radiator, showing a simple embodiment of the present invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is. a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section similarto that shown in Fig. 2, but. showing the parts in a different position, and Fig. 4 is a perspective.

view of the lock member employed in the form illustrated.

Referring to said drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the present in vention, the reference character 5 designates a radiator air valve of a common and well known type, and 6 designates a fragment of one coil 0 r a-steam' radiator. In ac :ordance UNITED STATES YP'ATENTOFFICE.

OF C ICAGO, I'LnInoIs.

or HEATIN'G sYs'rrEMs. r

a, 1925. Serial No. 72,864.

with the common practice, the air valve 5 is formed with a threaded nipple 7 which is screwed into a threaded hole 8 formed in the .wall of the radiator coil.

In the form of locking means shown to lllustrate the present invention, a lock memin the interior of the valve casing 10 and protrudes from the nipple? thereof. and lockingly engagesthe inner face of the wall of the radiator coil 6. In its preferred form, the locking member 9 is so construct-- ed that it may be inserted into the threaded hole of the radiator coil, in advance of the nipple, whenlscrewing the air valve upon the radiator, but when fully screwed home, the-inner end of the locking member auto-I mat-ically springs out'of the threaded hole and engages with the inner face of the wall a piece of wire, rod or tubing is .used it may be split lengthwise for a portion of its length and the two branches spread apart as shown. It is preferred to form the lock-- ing member of resilient material in order that when set ntheir spread condiiion, the two branches 12, 12 will sprlng back into such spread condition after being sprung together when inserting them through the threaded hole in the wall of the radiator coil.

The locking member is secured to some fixed, inaccessible part of the valve such as the pin 14 which extends up from the bot tom member 15 of the valve casing. In the forum shown,said pin 14 forms a guide post for a member 16 of the valve mechanism,

but this is unimportant, since any pin, lug or other anchoring means may be used. The locking member 9 may have an eye 17 formed on one end which, when placed upon the pin 14, secures the locking member against removal from the valve.

.ber 9 is used, which is held against removal (ill In the ordinary valve of the type shown, the pin llis cast as a part of the bottom member of the casing and when the locking member is secured upon it, it becomes impossible to unscrew the valve from the radiator without using suflicient force to break the locking member or pin. Consequently, when this form is used, the air valve cannot be disconnected from the radiator without breakage of some part.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the pin LL is secured to the bottom member of the casing by means that permit of its removal by one havingthe necessary implements. It is shown as threadcdly secured in the bottom inenil'ier, but unprovided with a slot for a screwdriver. screwed into place from the inside'of the device before the bottom member is secured to the dome member of the casing or it can be screwed in from the lower side and cut off flush with the lower face of the-bottom incn'iber. Furthermore, it may be fused to the bottom member by soft fusible material, thereby rendering it still more difficult of removal. An authorized person may drill "out the pin and thereby remove it to dis connect the locking member 9 from it.

In the form shown, the locking member is inserted through the outer end of the nipple and into the hollow of the bottom member and placed over the pin 14:. The other parts of the valve are then assembled as usual. When a valve, equipped with a locking member as above described, is to be secured upon a radiator, the protruding ends 12 of the locking member 9 are inserted in the breaded holes in the radiator coil (see 3) and the nipple turned up in the threaded hole until the protruding ends pass the inner face of the wall of the radiator coil and spring apart and stand in position to engage the inner face of said wall.

An unauthorized person in attempting to unscrew the valve, will lind that it cannot be unscrewed beyond a certain distance, which is the point where the shoulders or projection 13 of the branches 12 engagewith the inner face of the wall of the radiator coil. By making the locking member of rugged form, It will withstand the ordinary attempts to unscrew the valve and discourage any such attempt.

\Vhile only one type of radiator air valve has heal illustrated, it is obvious that the invention is applicable to all air valves having a threaded nipple for making a threaded connection with a radiator coil or other member of a heating system.

More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possible without cleparting from the spirit of this invention; I desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and described, but intend, in the following The pin can be claims, to point out all of the invention disclosed herein.

i claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An air valve lock for irremovably loching (LL valves to heating members of heating systems, and comprising a locking memmating member, when the valve is screwed thereon. i An ai r valve lock for irremovably locking air valves to heating members of heating systems, and comprising a locking member having a shouldered part protruding from the threaded nipple of the valve casing, arranged to lockingly engage the innerface of the wall of a heating member when the valve is screwed thereon, said locking member being positively secured to the valve against endwise outward movement therefrom and being inaccessible, and irren'iovably connecting the" Valve to the heating member, when the valve is screwed thereon.

3. A lock for air valves of heating systems, comprising a locking member having shouldered parts protruding fromthe threaded nipple of the'casing of the valve, adapted to lockingly engage the wall of an object upon which the valve is secured, and normally non-removable means fixedly secured to the casing for securing said locking member to the valve casing.

4:. A lock for air valves of heating systems, comprising'a locking member,having a shouldered part protruding from the threaded nipple of the casing of the valve, adapted to lockingly engage the wall of an object upon which the'valve is secured,and a pn engaging in an opening in said locking member and normally non-removably secured to said valve casin 5. An air valve lock for irremovably looking air valves to heating members of heating systems, and comprising a locking member having a forked end protruding from the threaded nipple of the valve casing, and at least of one branch of said fork being formed with a shoulder arranged to lockingly engage the inner face of a wall of a heating member when the valve is screwed thereon, said locking member being positively secured to the valve against endwise outward movement therefrom and being inaccessible, and irremovably connecting the valve to the heating member, when the Valve is screwed thereon.

6. An air valve lock for irremovably looking air valves to heating members of heat- Eng systems, and comprising a locking member formed of resilient material and having a forked end protruding from the threaded nipple of the valve casing, both branches of the fork being formed with shoulders arranged to lockingly engage the inner face of a Wall of a heating member when the valve is screwed thereon, said locking member being positively secured to the valve against endwise outward movement therefrom and being inaccessible and irremovably connecting the valve to the heating member. When the valve is screwed thereon.

ADOL'PH J. ORTSEIFEN. 

